Saudi Champagne

By: Nadia Sakkal

Many thanks to the author for the gifted copy of this book!

BLURB (From Goodreads)
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is hardly known as a “gay haven”, and John certainly didn’t think so. At least at first. When his partner persists in moving there, he decides to end the matter once and for all by finding proof about how horrible life there can be. After thorough research, however, he finds no evidence of beheadings of queer people. What he does find are testimonies of how good life can be, as long as they keep their sexuality hidden, a skill John has mastered. What’s in store for a gay couple and their son when they move from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia? Saudi Champagne tells one man’s personal journey of letting go of bad habits, finding passion, accepting a different culture, and being brave enough to make mistakes.

MY REVIEW

What a refreshing book. It really makes the reader take a second look at things we may take for granted. While I am not apart of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am an ally. I hated that John had to hide apart of himself when they moved to Saudi Arabia. It made me really angry. I understand it is a different part of the world that has different beliefs, but I was still angry. I haven’t read a book that brought out emotion like that in such a long time. This book touches on so many things: acceptance, bullying, parenting, trust, culture shock, and finding that home is in your heart. It was heartwarming to see John’s growth throughout the book. The depictions of Saudi Arabia are excellent, as the author has lived there. It was was so interesting to read about how expats lived, and the hierarchy depending on which passport you own. I think this book is an excellent reminder to just love people and accept them for who they are. Everyone can learn something from this book.

It’s available here.